Vol. 14 No. 17 - February 19, 2014

news

Anna Maria Island Sun News StoryRenourishment to continue

BRADENTON BEACH – Somewhere near 15th Street South, the federally funded renourishment project is expected to end and a new project to recoat Coquina and Cortez public beaches will begin.

Because of last-minute talks with contractor Great Lakes Dredge and Dock, that changeover is expected to be more or less seamless. More...

Barefoot Tiki gets OK for food service

HOLMES BEACH – The food business may soon be booming at the Barefoot Tiki Bar and Café after commissioners approved a plan to screen the mobile kitchen to allow its use.

Owner Nicole Heslop previously was using a self-contained food trailer to prepare and serve food to customers. However, the city shut down the food trailer in December, and Heslop was told she must comply with a host of requirements for food preparation and outdoor dining. More...

Anna Maria Island Sun News StoryFox medals in DAR awards

BRADENTON – The Manatee Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution presented Suzi Fox with the DAR’s National Conservation Award and Medal as director of Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring.

Kathy Doddridge of the DAR presented the awards on Friday morning at the American Legion Post, 2000 75th St. W., saying that Fox drew her into Turtle Watch as a volunteer with her enthusiasm. More...

Anna Maria Island Sun News StoryCortez festival best ever

CORTEZ – Wishin’ you were fishin’? Join 25,000 other fishing fans at the 32nd Annual Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival this weekend from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Seafood stars against the backdrop of the authentic, working historic fishing village, including the famous “Cortez hot dog” – fried mullet in a hot dog bun with cole slaw. More...

Mayor takes steps to clear streets

ANNA MARIA – Mayor SueLynn has taken steps to help residents who have to avoid construction vehicles in the street to get around.

The mayor sent out a notice to contractors and construction workers that Manatee County Sheriff’s Office deputies are issuing warnings on any vehicle that is parked facing the wrong direction and with tires on the pavement. More...

Mayor finds fault with e-mails

ANNA MARIA – Mayor SueLynn says an e-mail being circulated in the vacation rental business is stirring up trouble.

While SueLynn and Holmes Beach City Commission Jean Peelen have been successful in getting the state legislature to consider repealing the ban on regulating only rentals, the e-mail circulated by Joe Varner, of Anna Maria Vacations, in Holmes Beach is full of misleading comments. More...

Dog park improvements detailed

ANNA MARIA – By a unanimous vote, the city’s Planning and Zoning Board (P&Z) voted to accept a modified site plan for the Sandbar restaurant without a new lot at Spring Avenue and Gulf Drive.

P&Z member Micheal Coleman recused himself from voting because of his ties with Sandbar owner Ed Chiles and the Pine Avenue Restoration project. More...

More objections raised in Mainsail agreement

HOLMES BEACH – For the fifth time since December, Mainsail’s settlement agreement with the city will be back to the city commission for approval on Feb. 25 after objections were raised at last week’s meeting.

Since the second of two mediation sessions in September, the company and commission have been refining the company’s plan to build guest units, a lodge and restaurant near the corner of Gulf and Marina drives. More...



features

Anna Maria Island Sun News StoryPTO works on prom

ANNA MARIA – The Anna Maria Elementary School PTO is preparing for the prom – not for the kids but for the parents.

“At the Prom” is the theme of this year’s fund-raiser, and you can dress the part or not.

Tickets are $40 per person or you can get an eight-seat table for $280 or a 10-top for $350. More...



OUTDOORS

Anna Maria Island Sun News Story Grouper on the edge

I first heard about grouper being caught along the ledges of the Intracoastal Waterway almost 30 years ago, but had forgotten about it until my neighbor Mark McBride told me about the big gag grouper he was catching there on a regular basis. McBride learned about the fishing while watching boaters from the local trailer parks trolling the edges of the channels and catching some impressive fish.

McBride, a student of fishing, did some exploring and through some trial and error discovered the most productive ledges and rock piles. Some of his favorites run from Longboat Pass to just north of the Sister Keys. On a cool and foggy day in early February McBride took me out to introduce me to the fishing and taught me a lot about the strategy and techniques he uses to catch grouper in the bay. More...



real estate

The new mortgage world

Once upon a time before life got too complicated, before computers promised a future without paper and banks actually had real people on the other end of the phone, there was the 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage. It was a quaint idea. People wanted to buy a house to live in for 30 years, and banks wanted to lend them the money to do so. The system worked really well for decades until it didn’t.

Well I am exaggerating a bit since most of the mortgages in the country are still 30-year, fixed-rate in spite of the fact that number is steadily going down. But there are substantial changes ahead for both conventional financing and some of the more unconventional types. More...



business

Anna Maria Island Sun News Story

Does price matter if income rises?

Investment Corner

In the stock market’s run-up during 2013, investors started to focus in on rising prices as priority. In the first few weeks of 2014, with the S&P 500 down a bit more than 6 percent, investors are now focusing on declining prices and wondering if the good times are over. The short-term emotions of investing can swing quickly.

One thing we know a bit about at my firm is holding high quality businesses as owners, as opposed to trading stocks for short-term gains, which often turn out to be losses. When investing as an owner, several advantages are put on your side that I think are key to being a successful investor. More...



SPORTS

Anna Maria Island Sun News Story

Dominated by defenses

The Sun sports game of the week was a defensive contest between the Beach Bums Patriots and the Manatee Diagnostic Ravens in the 8-to-10-year-old NFL flag football division at the Anna Maria Island Community Center.

The first half of play was an epic struggle between two very stingy defenses. Both teams only crossed the mid-field line on offense once the entire half. When the opposition’s offense did cross into the scoring red zone, the defense shut the door and did not allow any points. The halftime score was 0 to 0. More...

Healthy food can taste great

Feasting on Fitness

As a TV reporter ages ago, I used to get paid the big bucks (ha) getting all sides to a story and doing the research it takes. So this volunteer column is the result of my week’s experiences and what I can write in two to three hours time. I always hope to inspire and prevent needless suffering of humans and animals that occurs way too often.

It is my belief that in our area, it would be a huge financial benefit if we had more vegan restaurants. Really vegan restaurants.

Like the exclusively vegan restaurant Ionie’s in Sarasota. My friend, Carl Lovejoy, is the amazing chef there. Check out restaurants’ Facebook pages or websites to see what they’re serving. More...


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